Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-29

could have the least suspicion that the
Lionne was laboring out in the storm,
and so near to the entrance of the port.
The news would tranform the scene.
The drawbridge leading on to the quay
was at last reached and crossed, and
Pauline once more stood in the midst of
the active crowd of workers. She
glanced about in search of her friend
Marcel, the powerful sailor whom she
had left in the act of hauling heavy
baskets of fish at the head of the ladder.
He was no longer standing at his post.
The girl fastened toward the cafe,
She found him seated there with a petit
verre at his side. He looked up inquir-
ingly as she entered.
Save him, Marcel!' cried Pauline,
clasping her hands. Save himl'
Marcel stared, as though doubling
Pauline's saneness.
1.-THE Lionne is trying to enter the
harbor," explained the girl; ''she will be
dashed to pieces against the jetty. There
is not moment to lose. Save Fernando
Marcel sprang to his feet The cafe
was crowded.
ITO the rescueH' he exclaimed.
and followed Marcel out upon the quay.
The news which Pauline had brought
spread like wildfre. The excitement in
the harbor became general. The sailors
on board the fishing smacks left their
work and went with Marcel in a hurry
ing crowd toward the jetty. Pauline
Delille was among the foremost.
The jetty was long and narrow, and
curved gradually out to sea. At the ex-
IRENE end, or entrance to the harbor, a
bright red lamp was burning stead
lily. Toward this red lamp the crowd
advanced. against the wind. which blew
in their faces with such sudden and pow
erful gusts that it was difficult to make
much Roadway. Every wave that broke
against the jetty covered these brave
people with singing shower of spray.
Marcel was the first to reach the jetty
head. and Pauline was still close beside
him. Looking seaward with sailor S
keen eye, Marcel perceived faint light
rising and falling among the waves He
pointed it out to the girl
That's the Lionne," said he; "she is
steering up against the tide. We are
not here moment too soon."
He then turned to the men and gave
his instructions in a loud. commanding
voice. Everything was quickly got in
readiness to render aid to the distressed
vessel. Ropes were hauled forward and
firmly attached, and every man was
speedily stationed at his post prepared fol
action.
Pauline Delille leaned eagerly over the
low wall of the jetty. She watched the
light on board the Lionne as it rose and
fell, and was sometimes hidden entirely
behind high waves. Slowly it ap
preached nearer and nearer toward the
narrow entrance to the harbor. She
knew that the slightest miscalculation
or the least mishap to the rudder, and the
boat would be dashed to pieces against
the projecting masonry. Those few mo-
ments of suspense seemed to her like 6
lifetime; her agony was terrible when she
reflected that they might be her lover
last moments on earth. The sunny days
they had passed together in their native
village, and the plans they had formed
for the future, rose up in her mind only
to increase the sense of bewilderment anC
despair And yet she lost no confdenc,
in Fernand; no pilot could guide boa
with greater skill.
Closer and closer came the light toward
the harbor, and at some moments 80 com
pletely lost among the waves that Paulin,
was seized with the overwhelming feal
that the Lionne had sunk never to ris'
again. But presently hugh wave leap
ing high brought the fishing smack, will
sudden rush and a loud roar, into tn,
narrow opening where the lamps on each
side of the jetty glimmered down upoI
the broken sail, number of fishermen
clinging to the spars, and the stou
hearted Fernand Demarre still stationed
at the helm.
But the great wave upon which tn,
Lionne was lifted into port had scarcel,
subsidized when another wave leapt aftel
it, and sweeping forward struck tn
bow of the boat with such fore
that Fernand lost his balance, and wa
flung overheard before Pauline's eyes
A cry of horror rose from the crowd. bu
it was quickly silenced; for Marcel, tn
muscular fisherman, had sprung upol
the wall Of the jetty, with rope boun'
round his waist. In another moment h
had been lowered into the sea.
A minute of terrible suspense followed
Marcel and Pauline's brave lover wen
struggling. half hidden by the surf, a
the very entrance to the harbor. A sin
gle wave might, without warning, dasl
both men against wall of the jetty an
deprive them of life. But the men wer
both excellent swimmers, and we'll knew
their danger, and meanwhile they wer
being carried farther into the harbor OH
of the toughest sea. Fernand had nov
got near enough to his friend Marcel +
seize an end of the rope; and they coul
keep themselves afioat while swimmin
side by side. At the same time larg
boat from the harbor, rowed by tw
fishermen, was making toward them
every stroke of their oars was watche
by Pauline with mingled sense of hops
fulness and dread. Could, she thought
such an unequal contest be much longe
sustained? The struggle was enough {
exhaust the best of swimmers But tn
boat reached them at last. though non
too soon; for the two men, when LITE
into the boat. were more dead than aliv